Australian ISIS returnees charged with terror offences and crimes against humanity
Consensus Summary
Two news sources report that a 34-year-old Australian woman from Broadmeadows was charged with terrorism offences for allegedly joining ISIS between 2013 and 2014 and returning to Australia in September 2025. The charges stem from a joint ASIO and AFP operation under Operation Kurrajong, which investigates Australians linked to ISIS. On May 28, 2026, 19 women and children, including some previously charged with crimes against humanity, arrived in Sydney and Melbourne from Syria’s al-Roj camp, with no arrests made upon their arrival. Earlier in May, three women were charged: Kawsar Abbas and Zeinab Ahmad for enslavement, and Janai Safar for terrorism-related offences. The returnees had been detained in the camp since the fall of the ISIS caliphate in 2019, with authorities emphasizing accountability for their actions.
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Key details reported by multiple sources:
- A 34-year-old woman from Broadmeadows, Victoria, was charged with entering a declared conflict zone and joining ISIS, with a maximum penalty of 10 years per offence.
- The woman was arrested after ASIO and AFP executed search warrants at homes in Broadmeadows and Fitzroy North, Melbourne.
- The woman returned to Australia in September 2025 after being detained by Kurdish forces in March 2019 and held in an internally displaced persons camp.
- Operation Kurrajong is a joint AFP, ASIO, and state/territory police operation investigating Australians who travelled to Syria during the ISIS caliphate.
- On May 28, 2026, 19 Australian women and children linked to ISIS arrived in Sydney and Melbourne from Syria’s al-Roj camp, with no arrests made upon arrival.
- Three women were previously charged upon arrival in early May 2026: Kawsar Abbas (53) and Zeinab Ahmad (31) with crimes against humanity (enslavement), and Janai Safar (32) with entering a declared area and being a member of a terrorist organisation.
- Kawsar Abbas was allegedly complicit in buying a female slave for $10,000 and keeping her in the home, with charges carrying a maximum penalty of 25 years per offence.
- The group of returnees had been detained in the al-Roj internment camp in Syria’s northeast since the fall of the ISIS caliphate in 2019.
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- The woman allegedly travelled to Syria between 2013 and 2014 to join ISIS.
- Operation Kurrajong’s operational planning began in 2015 and was formalised under the coordination operation in 2026.
- The group of 19 returnees included Kirsty Rosse-Emile, Kawsar Kanj, Aminah Zahab, Sumaya Zahab, Nesrine Zahab, and Hyam Raad, along with seven of their children, including one who recently turned 18.
- The AFP provided a live update and briefing with Deputy Commissioner Hilda Sirec at the time of the charges.
- The al-Roj camp is described as 'notorious' and home to former IS members and their families, with a reference to Save the Children.
- AFP Commissioner Krissy Barrett stated Australians should know 'law enforcement and security agencies are doing everything they can to keep them safe, and that individuals are held to account for their actions.'
Contradictions
Conflicting information between sources:
- Newscomau states the 34-year-old woman was expected to appear in court on May 28, 2026, but the ABC article does not explicitly confirm this timeline.
Source Articles
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An Australian woman linked to ISIS who returned home from Syria has been charged with terror offences.
Live: AFP provide update after woman charged with terrorism offences
The Australian Federal Police is providing an update about the arrest of the woman who had recently returned from Syria.